Abstract
Abstract Antrodia camphorata is a particular fungus in Taiwan. Many papers have showed that it is a good source of anti-oxidant and anti-cancer ability in recent years. Wild Antrodia camphorata parasitizes specifically on Cinnamomum kanehirai hays in a small quantity and its quality is not stable. Recent years, Antrodia camphorata was tried to be produced on large scale by submerged culture. Thus, building up a bioactivity index for Antrodia camphorata in submerged culture is important. In this study, quinone reductase (QR) in Hepa 1c1c7 cells were used to measure the bioactivity of Antrodia camphorata in submerged culture under different conditions. It was found that the fermentation broth in the late fermentation period is more powerful to induce QR in Hepa 1c1c7 cells. QR in Hepa 1c1c7 cells was found to increase with the fermentation time initially and then it reduced. The tendency of QR induction was similar to that of total phenolic compounds in the fermentation broth and was thought to be related. It was also found that the fermentation broth at a less aeration rate can stronger induce QR specific activity than that at a larger aeration rate. This tendency is reversed to that of the polysaccharides quantity in fermentation broth. From the results it was concluded that QR may be a workable index for Antrodia camphorata in submerged culture.